South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Addresses U.S. Congress

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​South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Addresses U.S. Congress

My friends, freedom and democracy are once again under threat. The war against Ukraine is a violation of international law. It is an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo with force. Korea strongly condemns the unprovoked armed attack against Ukraine.

Excerpts:

Alliance of Freedom, Alliance in Action

Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, Honorable Members of the United States Congress, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Citizens of America,

"A new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." I stand before that nation with the conviction of freedom, belief in the Alliance, and resolve to open a new future…In 1950, the Korean Peninsula was on the front line. The Soviet Union helped to rearm North Korea. North Korea's surprise attack threatened the peace on the Korean Peninsula and Asia. Korea's freedom and democracy were on the brink.

At that decisive moment, the U.S. did not look the other way. Korean and American soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder and fought bravely. Tales of our heroes were written. General MacArthur caught the enemy off guard with the landing of Incheon and turned the tide of the war. Operation Chromite was one of the greatest decisions ever made in the history of war.The U.S. 1st Marine Division miraculously broke through a wave of 120,000 Chinese troops at the Battle of Lake Changjin.

Sons and daughters of America sacrificed their lives to "defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

In the Battle of Lake Changjin alone, 4,500 American service members lost their lives. Over the course of the War, almost 37,000 U.S. soldiers fell.

The late Colonel William Weber fought in the Battle for Hill 324 in Wonju. He lost his right arm and leg. Yet, this American hero dedicated his life to honoring the noble sacrifice made by the Korean War veterans.

Today we are honored to have his granddaughter Ms. Dayne Weber with us. Ms. Weber, would you stand up please?

On behalf of the Korean people, I would like to thank you deeply. We salute his noble service and sacrifice.

(Thank you, Dayne.)

…Korea will never forget the great American heroes who fought with us to defend freedom.

Thank you. Thank you.

I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the Korean War veterans and their families. You did not hesitate to send your sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. You answered the call to defend the freedom of a country across the Pacific.

I thank the U.S. and its people for honoring the Korean War as a proud legacy. Thank you also for treating the veterans with honor and respect.

Thank you. Thank you.

The war ended after three years of intense battle. Our two nations signed the Mutual Defense Treaty and opened a new era of the alliance. Ever since, the Korean people rose from the ruins of war to build a thriving nation. And at every step, America has stood together with Korea.

We have many reasons to celebrate our Platinum Anniversary. We had no guarantees of success when we started. But today, our Alliance is stronger than ever, more prosperous together, and more connected like no other. Indeed, it has been the linchpin safeguarding our freedom, peace and prosperity.

Once a recipient of aid, Korea is the only nation in modern history to become a donor. This itself demonstrates the success of our Alliance.

Let me talk about the history of our Alliance. The ties of our cooperation and exchange span over 140 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1882.

In the late 19th century, American missionaries helped to widely introduce the values of freedom and solidarity to Korea. These values are the foundations of Korea's Constitution. They have made a huge impact on our independence movement and the founding of Korea.

Horace Underwood, Henry Appenzeller, Mary Scranton, and Rosetta Hall are some of the missionaries to set foot in Korea at the end of the nineteenth century. They built schools and hospitals. They promoted education of women. Their efforts laid the foundations for many Korean women to advance into society as educators, journalists, and doctors.

In the early 1960s, the Kennedy administration recommended Professor Rostow's model for economic growth. President Park Chung-hee wisely embraced the idea and pushed economic development forward. It laid the foundation for Korea to become an industrialized country.

Known as the "Miracle on the Han River," Korea's economic growth rate was unrivaled. Korea was one of the Least Developed Countries after the war. Its annual income was just US$67 per capita. Now its economy ranks tenth in the world.

Thank you.

Seoul was once reduced to ashes. Now it is one of the world's most vibrant digital cities.
Busan was once flooded with war refugees. Now it is the world's second-largest port city in terms of transshipment volume. It is also bidding to host the World Expo 2030.

Korea is winning the hearts of global citizens. It is dynamic. Freedom is thriving and democracy is robust.

Korea and the U.S. have joined forces to safeguard freedom and democracy throughout the world. Since World War II, Korea dispatched its warriors of freedom. We fought side by side with the U.S. in Afghanistan, Iraq, and others.

….But today in many parts of the world, false propaganda and disinformation are distorting the truth and public opinion. They are threatening democracy.

The rule of law allows the freedoms of everyone to coexist. It is upheld by parliamentary democracy.
False propaganda and disinformation corrupt intellectualism. They threaten democracy and the rule of law.

Such totalitarian forces may conceal and disguise themselves as defenders of democracy or human rights. But in reality, they deny freedom and democracy.

We must not be fooled by such deception and disguises.

We have for so long protected democracy and the rule of law with our blood and sweat.

We must work together and fight the forces of falsehood and deception that seek to destroy democracy and the rule of law.

Those who cherish freedom also respect the freedom of others. Thus, freedom brings peace. Peace, in turn, safeguards freedom. Freedom and peace are sources of creativity and innovation. They bring prosperity and abundance.

Our Alliance was forged 70 years ago to defend Korea's freedom. The Alliance has now become a global alliance that safeguards freedom and peace around the world. Korea will fulfill its responsibilities. It will play its part that matches its economic capacity.

In his 1961 Inauguration Address, President John F. Kennedy said, "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Korea will stand in solidarity with the international community. We will do what we can for the freedom of humanity.

Korea, with the U.S., will march toward the future.

As I took office last year, I pledged to rebuild Korea: a nation belonging to the people rooted in freedom, democracy, and market economy; a nation that the people can be truly proud of, as it fulfills its role as a responsible member of the international community.

Together with the U.S., Korea will play the role as a "compass for freedom." It will safeguard and broaden the freedom of citizens of the world.

But even as we walked in unison for freedom for 70 years, there is one regime determined to pursue a wrong path. That is North Korea.

The difference is stark between Seoul that chose freedom and democracy and Pyongyang that chose dictatorship and communism. North Korea has abandoned freedom and prosperity and dismissed peace.

North Korea's nuclear program and missile provocations pose a serious threat to the peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

To deter its reckless behavior, the alliance must stand united with determination. As President Reagan once said: "There is a price we will not pay. There is a point beyond which they must not advance."

We must make his words clear to North Korea…

Along with close Korea-U.S. coordination, we need to speed up Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral security cooperation to counter increasing North Korean nuclear threats…

We must raise global awareness of the dire human rights situation in North Korea. We must not shy away from our duty to promote freedom for North Koreans.

Last month, my government published a report on North Korean human rights. We released it to the public for the first time.

The report documents a wide range of abuses in North Korea. It is based on the testimonies of 508 North Korean defectors collected over the past five years. It records many cases of serious violations of international norms such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights agreements...

We need to raise awareness. We must inform the world of the gravity of North Korea's human rights violations. I ask for your help in improving North Korea's grim conditions.

My friends, freedom and democracy are once again under threat. The war against Ukraine is a violation of international law. It is an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo with force. Korea strongly condemns the unprovoked armed attack against Ukraine.

When North Korea invaded us in 1950, democracies came running to help us. We fought together and kept our freedom. The rest is history.

Korea's experience shows us just how important it is for democracies to uphold solidarity. Korea will stand in solidarity with the free world. We will actively work to safeguard the freedom of the people of Ukraine and support their efforts in reconstruction.

God bless you, God bless the United States of America, and may God bless our great alliance.
Thank you.
 
 

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